Estonia’s Independence Day – Vabariigi Aastapäev – was duly celebrated as the Nordic Chambers of Commerce and the four countries’ Ambassadors to Estonia met for a festive dinner last Tuesday, February 21st.

During 2012, Norway holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers and Paal Aschjem, the Norwegian Chamber’s Chairman and Lise Kleven Grevstad, Norway’s Ambassador to Estonia, were invited to open the celebrations.

- According to my knowledge, Estonia’s Independence was originally intended to be proclaimed on 21 February, 1918. The proclamation was delayed until the evening of 23 February, when the manifesto was printed and read out aloud publicly in Pärnu. On the next day, 24 February, the manifesto was printed and distributed in the capital, Tallinn, said Paal Aschjem.

Our festive evening together took place at Tallinn’s Mannerheim Restaurant and Rudolf Visnapuu – Chef de Cuisine and one of the few Cordon Bleu Chefs in Estonia – had composed a special menu including both Estonian classical dishes as well as some of the Finnish Statesman Gustaf Mannerheim's favorites.

94 years have now passed since Estonia declared its Independence and we rounded up our evening together with a challenging quiz, highlighting some of the Estonian events and peculiarities through the years.

On behalf of the SCCE Council I would like to thank the members of the four Nordic Chambers of Commerce in Estonia, and Denmark’s, Finland’s, Norway’s and Sweden’s Ambassadors to Estonia for a very nice and cozy evening together. My thanks also go to Mannerheim Restaurant for a fantastic dinner.